Winter skincare 101: dos and don'ts to keep skin moisturised

Pretorius explains that in cold, dry weather, your skin can lose moisture rapidly, becoming dehydrated, cracked, and more prone to fine lines and wrinkles.

In winter, dryness is common, and what many people don’t realise is that dehydration can significantly accelerate skin ageing and compromise the skin barrier.

When the skin barrier is compromised, more water escapes than usual, leading to that familiar dry, tight sensation many people experience in winter.

During winter, your skin needs:

Different care throughout the year - skincare products during winter might include more moisturising ingredients than products used during summer.
Lifestyle tweaks: eating foods with healthy fats and fibre, and drinking liquids that hydrate instead of dehydrate the skin is helpful. For example, choose water over coffee because caffeine dehydrates the skin.
Professional skincare treatments to boost hydration and prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

Professional skin therapies like micro needling or Collagen Induction Therapy can be used to introduce new collagen and fibres into the skin.

"We take ingredients that really make the middle layer of the skin so much more plump, spongy and elastic... going for a treatment like this once a month, it can reverse fine-line and wrinkles and prevent it from getting worse," explains Pretorius.

Pretorius also believes that the best time to go for professional skincare treatments is during winter.

What can be done during winter to protect skin?

Pretorius explains what to do and what not to do...

Do:

Apply SPF to exposed areas of your body daily, no matter how cold or grey it is outside. Exposure to the sun’s UV rays can weaken the skin barrier.
Drink enough water, and limit your caffeine and alcohol intake, as these are very dehydrating for the body and skin.
Eat plenty of fresh foods, including healthy fats, lean protein, vegetables, fruit and fibre.
Soothe sensitivity and irritability with a calming skincare product, offering immediate inflammation relief. This calming serum has a soothing effect on dry and sensitive skin and contains an expertly selected combination of ingredients to support skin barrier function.
Consider getting a humidifier for the rooms you spend a lot of time in. This is an easy and cost-effective way to increase indoor humidity.
Moisturise with a quality moisturiser twice a day.

Don’t:

Don’t cleanse your skin with harsh soaps or exfoliators that strip it of its natural moisture. Opt for a soap-free, pH-balanced, gentle cleanser to gently remove impurities without disrupting the skin’s barrier integrity.
Hot water can damage the skin barrier, so, as tempting as it may be, avoid hot showers and baths and opt for lukewarm to warm water instead.
Avoid potentially irritating skincare products that contain ingredients like essential oils, alcohol, fragrances and artificial colourants.
If you can help it, avoid indoor heating like electrical heaters as much as possible. They are extremely dehydrating.
Don’t rub your skin when you dry yourself after a bath or shower, as mechanical pulling or tugging at the skin will increase sensitivity. Gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel instead.